Upupa africana (African hoopoe) 

[= Upupa epops] 

Hoephoep [Afrikaans]; Ubhobhoyi [Xhosa]; umZolozolo, uZiningweni [Zulu]; Kangungu/Nduranganga [Kwangali]; Popopo, Khapopo, Pupupu, 'Mamokete [South Sotho]; Kukuku [North Sotho]; Mhupupu [Shona]; Umphuphuphu [Swazi]; Pupupu [Tsonga]; Mmadilêpê, Pupupu [Tswana]; Hop [Dutch]; Huppe d'Afrique [French]; Wiedehopf [German]; Poupa [Portuguese]

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Teleostomi (teleost fish) > Osteichthyes (bony fish) > Class: Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia (terrestrial vertebrates) > Tetrapoda (four-legged vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota > Reptilia (reptiles) > Romeriida > Diapsida > Archosauromorpha > Archosauria > Dinosauria (dinosaurs) > Saurischia > Theropoda (bipedal predatory dinosaurs) > Coelurosauria > Maniraptora > Aves (birds) > Order: Upupiformes > Family: Upupidae

African hoopoe. [photo Callie de Wet ©]

The African hoopoe is a very widespread range, found everywhere in southern Africa except deserts, karoo and, strangely, Lesotho. It mainly lives in tall woodlands with short cut grass undergrowth, but it has also adapted well to living with humans, and can be found in many urban areas. It feeds on insects, probing the ground with its bill. It often nests in tree holes up to 8m above ground, as well as a number of man-made structures. It lays 4-7 eggs, which are incubated exclusively by the female. The chicks stay in the nest for 26-32 days before leaving the nest for the surrounding foliage. They remain dependent on their parents for at least 1 month before becoming fully independent.

Distribution and habitat

It occurs almost everywhere in southern Africa except for deserts and arid Karoo and, strangely, Lesotho. It commonly lives in open woodland with short grass undergrowth. It has adapted very well to humans, and can be seen in parks, gardens, orchards and plantations. It avoids dense indigenous forest.

Food 

Feeds throughout the day, usually in low grass or bare ground. It probes the ground with its slightly open bill, trying to find insects. Once the prey is caught, it will sometimes beat the prey on the ground, reducing it to bite-size pieces. The following prey items have been recorded in its diet:

• Large insects
  • Adults
  • Larvae
  • Pupae
• Termite alates

Breeding

• It mainly nests in tree holes up to 8m from the ground, usually natural but sometimes made by barbets or woodpeckers. It can also nest in termite mounds, stone walls, ground hole, drainage pipe, crevice in masonry, underfloor space or ceiling of house or nest box. The nest is always chosen by the male, who defends it vigorously.
• It lays its eggs in August-February, peaking at September-November.
• It lays 4-7 eggs, usually in successive days, although it sometimes takes a two day break between the first and second egg.
• Incubation starts when the last egg has been laid, and is done solely by the female, for 15-16 days. The female will huff and hiss if disturbed on nest.
• The male does all the hunting for 7-8 days, after which the female joins in as well. The following prey item have been recorded in the chicks diet:
  • Grubs
  • Worms
  • Slugs
  • Harvester termites
  • Grasshoppers
  • Lepidopteran larvae
  • Beetles
  • Beetle larvae
  • Mole crickets
  • Frogs (usually Breviceps)
  • Small burrowing snakes
  • Lizards
• The chicks stay in the nest for 26-32 days, after which they leave the nest for the surrounding foliage. They stay dependent on their parents for at least 1 month, before coming fully independent.

Threats

Not threatened, although outcompeted for nesting sites in urban areas by Sturnus vulgaris (Common starling)

References

• Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ and Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Roberts - Birds of southern Africa, VIIth ed. The Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town.